Regardless of the loss, and his frustration, O’Neill nonetheless had time for a joke with a member of the German media.
“Having regarded on the stats, satirically Germany performed extra lengthy balls than us within the sport,” he mentioned.
For his half, Julian Nagelsmann, whose feedback after the reverse fixture in Cologne prompted O’Neill’s quip, was relieved to get by way of a “powerful” sport.
“The second half was all about defending,” Nagelsmann advised BBC Sport.
“As I mentioned earlier than the sport it was a extremely powerful opponent, a variety of lengthy balls and so they combat and we needed to combat as nicely.
“It was a very good step in the correct route to beat a crew like Northern Eire and to combat for second balls and be as powerful because the opponent.”
High spot in Group A is now an extended shot given Germany have put their grasp on automated qualification.
However second place and a assured play-off remains to be on the playing cards forward of November’s two qualifiers in Slovakia and residential to backside facet Luxembourg.
It is probably not a lot comfort now, however a play-off as one in every of 4 Nations League group winners appears to be a safer fall again given different outcomes throughout Europe.
So, this younger Northern Eire facet could also be down, however they’re undoubtedly not out.
